Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand

The Establishment of the Post Office in Great Britain,
1656

The Library of the Society is privileged to hold an original
historic document, printed in 1657, relating to the establishment of the
Post Office in Great Britain. This 9 page, Act of Cromwell's Parliament
on 17th September 1656 and deals with the rules, rates and routes within
England, Scotland and Ireland, plus Europe. It establishes the Post Office
and the role of Post-Master under the title "An Act for the Setling (sic)
of the Postage of England, Scotland and Ireland". The front page is
shown below, slightly reduced.

The writing style and font of the original makes reading
it difficult, and so it is transcribed here in its entirety. The original
concerns with "dangerous and Wicked designs", and "loose and uncertain hands"
are perhaps signs of the times in which is was enacted.

While the original is not available for lending, copies
are available upon request from the Office, and the complete document is
available for viewing below.

An Act for the Setling of the Postage of
England, Scotland and Ireland.

Whereas it has been found by experience, that the erecting
and settling of one General Post-Office for the speedy Conveying, Carrying
and Re-carrying of Letters by Post, to and from all Places within England,
Scotland and Ireland, and to several parts beyond the Seas, has been, and
is the best means, not only to maintain a certain and constant Intercourse
of Trade and Commerce between all the said Places, to the great benefit
of the People of these Nations, but also to Convey the Public Dispatches,
and to discover and prevent many dangerous and wicked Designs, which have
been, and are daily contrived against the Peace and the Welfare of this
Commonwealth, the Intelligence whereof cannot well be Communicated, but
by Letter of Script.

Be it Enacted by His Highness the Lord Protector and the Parliament, and
it is Enacted and Ordained by Authority thereof, that from henceforth there
be one General Office, to be called and known by the name of the Post-Office
of England: And one Officer from time to time to be nominated and appointed
by His Highness the Lord Protector, and His Successors, and to be constituted
by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, under the Name and Style
of Post-Master General of England, and Comptroller of the Post-Office; which
said Officer, and his Deputies by him thereunto sufficiently Authorised,
and no other, shall have the Receiving, Taking up, Ordering, Sending Forward,
and Delivering of all Letters and Packets, which shall from time to time
come and go to and from all Parts and Places of England, Scotland and Ireland,
where he shall settle Posts, and from all the said Parts and Places beyond
the Seas (excepting such letters as shall be sent by common known Carriers,
and by them Conveyed along with their Carts, Wagons, and Pack-horses, and
Letters of Advice of Merchants, which shall be sent by Masters of any Ship,
Barque, or other Vessel of Merchandise, or any of their Company or Passengers
therein, immediately from any Port-town of England, Scotland and Ireland,
by them to be Conveyed along with such Ship, Barque or other Vessel to any
other Port-town within any of the same, or into the Parts beyond the Seas,
or from the Parts beyond the Seas to any Port-town of England, Scotland
and Ireland, or any members thereof, and no further.

And excepting a Letter or more sent by a Messenger for his or their own
Affairs, who is, or are the Sender or Senders thereof, or by any Friend
to any Place or Places within the said Nations of England, Scotland or Ireland.
And also that the said Post-master-General of England and Comptroller of
the Post-Office, and his said Deputies only, and no other shall have the
Horsing of all through-posts, and persons Riding in Post by Commission or
without, to and from all Places, upon any of the Post-Roads within England,
Scotland and Ireland.

And be it further Ordained by Authority aforesaid, that the said Officer,
by himself, or his Deputy or Deputies, by him thereunto sufficiently Authorised,
shall, or may Demand, Have, Receive, and take for the Postage and Conveyance
of all or any Letters, which he shall so Convey, Carry and Re-carry as aforesaid,
or for the Horsing of any Through-Post, or perform Riding in Post as aforesaid,
the several Rates of Postage hereafter mentioned, and no other, viz.

For every Letter to or from any Place within Fourscore Miles distance from
London, if a single Letter, two Pence, and if a Double Letter, four Pence,
and so proportionally for every Packet of Letters, and for every Packet
of a greater Bulk, Eight pence the Ounce; And for every Letter at a farther
Distance than fourscore Miles, if a single Letter, Three pence, and if a
double Letter, Six pence, and so proportionally; And for every Packet of
a greater Bulk, One shilling the Ounce: And for every Letter to or
from Scotland, if a single Letter, Four pence, if a Double Letter, Eight
pence, and so proportionally; and if a Packet of a greater Bulk, One shilling
six pence the Ounce; And for every Letter to or from Ireland, for every
single Letter, Six pence, for every Double Letter, One shilling, and so
proportionally; and for every Packet of greater Bulk, Two shillings the
Ounce: And for such Letters or Packets as shall be Conveyed or Carried
within Ireland, the Rates thereof to be as followeth, viz. For every Letter
to or from any Place within forty Miles distance from Dublin, if a single
Letter, Two pence, if a double Letter, Four pence, and so proportionally,
and if a Packet of greater Bulk, Eight pence the Ounce; And for every Letter
at a farther distance than forty Miles, if a single Letter, Four pence,
if a double Letter, Eight pence, and so proportionally, and if a Packet of
greater Bulk, One shilling the Ounce. For every Letter that shall be
directed to Legorne, Genoa, Florence, Lyons, Marseilles, Smyrna, Aleppo
and Constantinople, One shilling the single Letter, Two shillings the double
Letter, and Three shillings Nine pence the Ounce Weight: For every
Letter to Bordeaux, Rochel, Nantes, Byonne, Cadize and Madrid, Nine pence
the single Letter, One shilling six pence the double, and Two shillings
the Ounce Weight; For every Letter to Saint Mallo, Morlaix, and Newhaven,
Six pence the single Letter, One shilling the Double, and One shilling six
pence the Ounce Weight: For every Letter to Hambrough, Frankfort and
Colloyne, Eight pence the single Letter, One shilling four pence the double,
and Two shillings the Ounce Weight: And for every Letter to Dantzicke, Lipiwich,
Lubecke, Stockholme, Copenhaven, Elfnore and Queenesbrough, Twelve pence
the single Letter, Two shillings the double and Four shillings the Ounce
Weight: And of every through Port, or Persons Riding in Post as aforesaid,
Two pence half penny the Mile for each Horse, beside the Guide Groat for
every Stage.

And whereas upon the Arrival of Ships from parts beyond the Seas, to the
Out-ports here, Letters directed to several Merchants in London, have been
heretofore frequently delivered by the bringers thereof to loose and uncertain
hands, to be Conveyed forwards, whereby great Prejudice has accrued to the
Affairs, as well as by miscarrying of many of the said Letters, as often
times by the opening of the same, to the discovery of the Correspondence
and secrets of said Merchants.

Be it further Ordained and Enacted by Authority aforesaid, That all Letters
and packets, that by any Master of any Ship or Vessel, or any of this Company,
or any Passengers therein, shall be brought to any Port-town of England,
or Members thereof, and there delivered to be sent forwards to the City of
London, or any other place in any of the Post-Roads from thence towards the
said City, (other than such Letters as are before excepted, and may be sent
by common known Carriers as aforesaid) shall by such Master, Passenger,
or other person be delivered to the Deputy, or Deputies only of the said
Officer above Ordained, by him appointed for the said Port-towns, and to
none other, by him to be sent forward according to the Direction hereof.

And that no person or persons whatsoever, other than such Officer as shall
be so nominated and appointed by His Highness the Lord Protector or His
Successors, and constituted by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England
as aforesaid, and his Deputies shall presume to set up or employ and Foot-Posts,
Horse-Posts, or Packet-Boats for the common Conveying, Carrying and Recarrying
or any Letters or Packets by Land within England, Scotland and Ireland,
or from, or to any of the Ports of the same by Sea, or for the Horsing of
any Through-Post, or perform Riding in Post as aforesaid, upon pain of forfeiting
the sum of One thousand pounds for every Month that he or they shall so
employ and continue the same, or any of them, the said forfeiture to be
sued for, and recovered by Action of Debt, Plaint, or Information in any
of His Highnesses Courts of Record, wherein no Assign, Privilege, Protection,
or Wager of Law to be admitted, and the said forfeiture so recovered, to
be one Moiety thereof to His Highness the Lord Protector and His Successors,
and other Moiety to such person or persons who shall or will inform and
sue for the same.

And for the better management of the said Office, and that the people of
these Nations may have their intercourse of Commerce and Trade the better
maintained, and their Letters and Advices Conveyed, carried and Recarried
with greatest Speed, Security, and Convenience that may be,

Be it further Enacted and Ordained by Authority aforesaid, That the said
Post-Master General of England, and Comptroller of the Post-Office so Nominated,
Appointed, and Constituted as aforesaid, and his Deputies shall from time
to time observe and follow such further Order, Rules, Directions and Instructions,
for and concerning the Settlement of convenient Posts and Stages upon the
several Roads in England, Scotland and Ireland, and the providing and keeping
of a sufficient number of Horses, and Packet-Boats, as well for the Carrying
and Conveying of the said Letters and Packets, as for the Horsing of all
Through-Posts, and persons Riding in Post, by Warrant or otherwise, as aforesaid,
as his said Highness the Lord Protector; and His Successors shall from time
to time in that behalf Make and Ordain.

And that his said Highness the Lord Protector and his Successors, may grant
to said Office, together with the several Rate of Postage above mentioned,
and all Profits, Privileges, Fees, Perquisites and Emoluments thereunto
belonging, or to belong, either for life, or for any term of years, not
exceeding Eleven years, to such person or persons, and under such Covenants,
Conditions, and yearly Rent to his Highness and his Successors Reserved,
as his said Highness and His Successors, with Advice of the Council, shall
from time to time think fit, for the best Advantage and benefit of the Common-wealth.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that no person
shall have Power to take, use, or else seize any Horses for the Service
mentioned in this Act, without the consent of the Owners, any usage or pretence,
or any thing in this Act contained to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

LONDON
Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers
To His Highness, 1657.